The newly-established Khalifa University of Science and Technology combines the Masdar Institute
of Science and Technology (MI), Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research
(KUSTAR), and the Petroleum Institute (PI) into one world-class, research-intensive institution,
seamlessly integrating research and education to produce world leaders and critical thinkers in
applied science and engineering.

The Masdar Institute of Science Technology and Petroleum Institute remain as research institutes
at Khalifa University, playing a critical role in the research structure and culture of the university
and serving as interdisciplinary research units focused on long-term strategic priorities.

Research is at the core of KU, as we know research has the power to transform industry, society
and regions KU’s research-focused academics seek to achieve global impact through excellence
in research domains of regional importance.

Prof. Kin Liao graduated with B.S. (Engineering Mechanics), M.S. (Engineering Mechanics), and Ph.D. (Materials Engineering Science), all from Virginia Tech. He had spent two years at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Northwestern University as a visiting scientist before joining Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore as a Lee Kuan Yew Fellow where he had served for 13 years. He was the founding faculty of NTU’s Bioengineering Division and has served as the Director for NTU’s BioInformatics Research Center from 2004-2006.

Prof. Liao is currently a professor holding joint appointments with the Aerospace Engineering Department and Mechanical Engineering Department. Prof. Liao’s research encompasses advanced materials for energy applications and aerospace applications, nano-materials and nano-mechanics, mechanics of cells and tissues, and durability of composite materials. His current research interests are in two-dimensional heterogeneous materials, and novel composites for aerospace applications. He has authored and coauthored more than 130 technical papers in leading international journals.